Feeding mechanism for fertilizer-distributers.



STARLEY S. SWANSON, OF BELLEVUE, OHIO.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FERTILIZER-DISTBIBUTERS.

Speccation of Letters Patent. Patented Jilne 1S, 1918.

Application tiled September 20, 1917. Serial No.,192.40`8.

To all 'w'hom itA may concern p Be it known that I, STARLEY S. SwANsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bellevue, in the count of Huron and, State of Ohio, have invente certainnew andv useful 'Improvements in Feeding Mechanism.v for Fertilizer-Distributers, of which the fol# i V i view taken on line 3-`3 of Fig. 1, the subjacent ratchet wheel and its intermittent aclowing is a specification.

My invention relates feeding mechanism for fertilizerdistributers or spreaders,` and more particularly to mechanism for intermittentlyactating the traveling load-carrying element 013 apron in such distribubers or spreaders whereby the load-carrying or conveyerapr'on will be operated intermittently so as to carry the load at the proper speed to the beatersor distributing cylinders and forprcdeterminately varying the speed at whichV the conveyer; apron travels, and .thereby vvaryingmthe Y cevingt's motion froml the conveyer shaft 3.

quantity of material distrihutedl L yThe primary object of the invention is to lf provide generally improved mechanismof this class which will be exceedingly simple in construction, cheap of manufacture, and ei-v s cient in use.

The'invention resides, rimarily, in combining with 4an endless loa -carrying apron and' means for movably supporti* and actuatlng the same, of means for controlling such ll/ith ille above mentioned and other ends in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in one of its embodiuu-uts iu the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out. in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, formin f a part of this specification, Figure 1, is a sdzc elevation of improved feeding nuchunism constructed in accordance with this invention to improvements in as applied to aconventional form of fertilizer distributer'or spreader vehicle, one of the drivin wheels being removed for the purpose of cearer illustration of the parts.

Fig. 2, a top plan view of the same, detached.

I' Fig. 3, an enlarged longitudinal sectional In Fig., t1, foltlie .iiiiproved feeding mechanism is shown applied to the wa 'on-.body or bed I, of a spreader vehicle ,an in Lwhich. @the fertilizerV Y is loaded and through which it is fed to the beaters or distributingcylinders, through the mediumof the ctiveyerf'a'pron'Q, passingover and re- Theaxle shaft-'1, may be connected .to and ydriven in the 'usu'al manner bymeans ofthe ground-ox` driving wheels 5, (one'of 'which is removedi-and the shaft 4, is provided with a continuously rotating driving' element 6, in

the present instance, in the specific form of a cam Wheel4 adapted to intermittently engage and actuate the oscillatory feeding element or Vrocker of the ratchet mechanism hereinafter described.

As a means 0f driving or actuating the conveyer shaft 3, the latter is provided with a ratchet wheel- 8, and as a means of intermittently actuating or driving the latter an mounted on the 'conveyer shaft 3, said rocker element 7, in the present instance, comprising oppositely disposed members 7,l (see Fig.

2), arranged on the inner 'and outer sides of the ratchet wheel, the outer member of the rocker being provided with an upwardly extending arm i,

The rearend of the oscillatory element or rocker' 7, is provided with a depending pawl 1 0, adapted to cooperate with theiteeth in thc ratchet wheel and heldin contact therei oscillatory' feeding'element or rocker 7, is

with at all times by means of the spring 11, A

` and it will be apparent that as the cam wheel or drivin element (3, is revolved in the di rection o the arrow by the driving wheels 5, the forward end of the rocker will be carried upwardly until the engaged arm or wing of, the cam wheel passes clear of the roller 14, after which `the rocker will be returned, by the mechanism hereinafter described, for a new working or feeding impulse by the ratchet wheel 8.

As a means of resiliently connecting, actuating and controlling said oscillatory member or rocker 7, relative to the driving element or cam wheel 6, and particularly as a means ofireturning the rocker or 'feeding element 7, .for a new feeding impulse, as well as limiting the throw of the rocker for regulating the feed movement imparted" to the apron, the upper end of the arm 9, of the rocker 7, is connected to a sleeve 16, adapted to reciprocate upon an adjustable rod 17, the latter extending forwardl and being adapted to be reciprocad an held in its respective adjusted position by means of a lever 18, within ready reach of the oper ator or driver of the vehicle, and operated in a well known and understood manner.

As a means of providing suitable stop mechanism for limiting the return move' ments of the rocker 7, and consequentl limiting the length of the working stro es or impulses impartedto the same by the wings or arms of the cam 6, the adjustable rod 17, is provided with a stop member or collar 19,

adjustably secured by means of a set screw- 19, and as a means of resiliently `connecting the adjustable and controlling rod; 17, to the rocker 7, through the medium ,of the sleeve 16, and the bearing stud`16, (see Fig. '3), and particularl ing the action of t e rocker 7, during each working impulse as actuated by the cam 6 and returning the rocker 7, to its initial position as controlled by the' adjustable rod 17, and stop 19, a. coiled compression spring `20, is mounted on the adjustable rodA 17,

at the rearof the sleeve 16, and interposed between the latter and a second collar 21,

` adjustably secured on the adjustable rod 17,

by means of a set screw 21, the tension of the spring 20, and the action 'of the latter upon the sleeve 16, and rocker 7, being readily regulated by adjusting the collar 21, in an obvious manner.

When it is 'desired to throw the feeding mechanism entirely outi of action without stopping the operation of the distributing' as the means of reslst- 1. In feeding mechanism for fertilizers,

the combination with rotatable and oscillatory feeding elements; of a continuously rotating driving element intermittently actuatin said e ements, and longitudinally 'movab e means for resiliently actuating and 'controlling said oscillatory feeding element relativeto and independently of said driving element. i

2. In a feeding device for fertilizer distributers, the combination with a shaft provided withV a. ratchet wheel, and a driving element comprising a cam; of a rocker on said shaft provided at one end with a feed pawl in engagement with said ratchet wheel 1and at the other with a roller in engagementY with said cam, and control mechanism ad; justably and resilientlyconnected to said rocker.

3. In a feeding device for fertilizer dis-l tributers, the combination with a shaft prof vided. with a ratchet wheel, and a driving shaft in front of the latter and a cam carried b said shaft; of a rocker on said shaf provi ed at one end with a' feed pawl-ir engagement with said ratchet wheel and a1 the other with' a roller in engagement witl said cam, and control mechanism adustabl) and resihently connected to said roc er, an( adapted to carry said roller out of engage ment with said cam.'

4. A feeding mechanism for fertilizer dis tributers, comprising a conveyor shaft pro vided with a ratchet wheel and a drivin shaft having al cam, a rocker on said sha operated b said cam, a paw] on said rocker an adj usta le guide rod, a sleeve on the lat ter in pivoted enga ement with said rocker a sleeve stop on sai rod, a. second adjustabl` stop on sald rod, and a's rin carried bjsaid adjustable guide mem r tween sait! sleeve and adjuble stops for resisting an(v returning the lat r and said rocker as actu ated by said shaft and cam. 7

5. A feeding mechanism for fertilizer dis tributers, comprising a conveyor shaft, ratchet wheel thereon, a driving shaft rc vided with a cam, a rocker. on said s ai provided at one end with a .feed pawl am at the .other with a friction roller adapteI to be engaged by said cam, said rocker bein provided with an arm, asleeve carried b4 the latter, an adjustable rod in said sleeve and provided with a sto member for lmitng the movement o Said sleeve and rocker, and a spring on said rod for resisting the movements of said sleeve and rocker, and returning the latter when actuated by said cam and driving shaft.

In bestimon whereof I have affixed my signature in t e presence of two wltnesses.

STARLEY S. SW'ANSON Witnesses:

B'. B. HATHAWAY, D. SALTZER. 

